West Ham full-back Sam Byram has suggested that he wouldn’t turn down the opportunity to sign for Nottingham Forest on a permanent basis.
The 25-year-old has been on loan at the Championship side since the beginning of this season, and could be tempted to make a switch to Forest full-time, depending on the Hammers’ future plans for him.
As quoted by the Nottingham Post, he said: “I need to play football and, you know, if Nottingham Forest offer me football next season, I would not turn that opportunity down,” said Byram.
“But I need to sit down in the summer with West Ham, because I do not know what their plans are for me.
“I am hoping to keep playing here until the end of the season and then see where we go from there.”
OPINION
It would be not great surprise to see Byram leave West Ham at the end of this season, although Manuel Pellegrini should perhaps think twice before jumping the gun on sanctioning his departure. If we’re being honest, Pablo Zabaleta must be due for the scrapheap some time very soon, and that would leave the Chilean with just Ryan Fredericks as an experienced right back. Whether Ben Johnson can break through at the rate that he is expected to remains to be seen, but you would assume that having a little more cover in that area, for another year at least would be a prudent move. If Pellegrini sees Fredricks as his undisputed number one going forward, then there’s no reason why Byram couldn’t slot in as a covering option. Whether that would suit him however, or whether Pellegrini will go into the market for a new full-back entirely, is a different kettle of fish, and it’s not hard to foresee a situation whereby Byram packs his bags for good.
